Excitation-contraction coupling in cardiac muscle

Calcium fraction correlating with contractile force of ventricular muscle of guinea-pig heart

Ca shifts in the isolated, perfused ventricular muscle of guinea-pig hearts were investigated with the aid of 45Ca under the conditions of complete equilibration of preparations with the isotope-containing solution. In some series of experiments total Ca content was also measured by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The content of 45Ca at the end of 70 min equilibration period during which the ventricles were stimulated at a rate of 60/min was 1.66 +/- 0.09 mmol/kg w.w. This content dropped to 0.42 +/- 0.09 mmol/kg w.w. within 4 min of rest. Contractile force also decreased to 21% of control. Both the content of 45Ca and contractile force returned to the pre-rest values within the 4 min of post-rest stimulation. The difference between the total Ca content in the rested and stimulated muscle was comparable to the respective difference in 45Ca contents. A significant linear correlation between this 45Ca fraction which was lost at rest and recovered during the post-rest stimulation, and contractile force was found under the following experimental conditions: I. post-rest recovery, II. decay during rest, III. post-rest stimulation at various rates. These results are consistent with the hypothesis proposing that this Ca fraction is involved in the frequency-dependent control of contractile force.

Voltage-sensitive calcium flux promoted by vesicles in an isolated cardiac sarcolemma preparation

The effect of membrane potential on the vesicular uptake of calcium in an isolated cardiac sarcolemma preparation from canine ventricle was evaluated. Membrane potentials were developed by the establishment of potassium gradients across the vesicular membranes. In the presence of valinomycin, the fluorescence changes of the voltage sensitive dye, diS-C3-(5) were consistent with the development of potassium equilibrium potentials. Using EGTA to remove endogenous calcium from the preparation and to maintain a low intravesicular calcium concentration over time, the uptake of calcium was linear from 5 to 100 sec, in the absence of sodium, at both -98 and -1 mV. The rate of calcium uptake (calcium influx) was approximately twofold greater at -1 mV than at -98 mV, and prepolarization of the membrane potential to -98 mV did not enhance calcium influx upon subsequent depolarization to -1 mV. Hence, calcium influx was voltage-sensitive but not depolarization-induced and did not inactivate with time. Furthermore, the calcium influx was not inhibited by the organic calcium antagonists, which suggests that this flux did not occur via the transient calcium channel. Evaluation of calcium influx over a wide range of membrane potentials produced a profile consistent with the hypothesis that calcium entered the vesicles through the pathway responsible for the persistent inward current observed in voltage-clamped isolated myocytes. A model was proposed to account for these results.

Model of calcium movements during activation in the sarcomere of frog skeletal muscle

A model of calcium movement during activation of frog skeletal muscle is described. The model was based on the half sarcomere of a myofibril and included compartments representing the terminal cisternae, the longitudinal sarcoplasmic reticulum, the extramyofibrillar space, and the myofibrillar space. The calcium-binding proteins troponin, parvalbumin, and calsequestrin were present in appropriate locations and with realistic binding kinetics. During activation a time-dependent permeability in the terminal cisternal wall led to calcium release into the myoplasm and its diffusion through the myoplasm longitudinally and radially was computed. After adjustment of three parameters, the model produced a myoplasmic free-calcium concentration that was very similar to those recorded experimentally with calcium indicators. The model has been used to demonstrate the importance of parvalbumin in the relaxation of skeletal muscle, to describe the time course and magnitude of calcium gradients associated with diffusion across the sarcomere, and to estimate the errors associated with the use of aequorin as an intracellular calcium indicator in muscle.

Transsarcolemmal calcium movements in arterially perfused rabbit right ventricle measured with extracellular calcium-sensitive dyes

Activation-dependent changes of mean extracellular calcium concentrations were monitored spectrophotometrically in arterially perfused right ventricle of rabbit via extracellular application of the calcium-sensitive absorption dyes, antipyrylazo III and tetramethylmurexide. After rest periods of 3 minutes or longer, 10% of total dye-accessible calcium (300-500 microM) is depleted cumulatively from the extracellular space by four to eight beats at 2 Hz stimulation. During continued stimulation, or during quiescence following a depletion response, mean extracellular calcium concentrations return toward the prestimulatory level in the course of 2-4 minutes. A single stimulation placed 2-30 seconds subsequent to rapid pacing results in a potentiated beat with an accompanying net increment of mean extracellular calcium. Total dye-accessible calcium can increase by at least 4% at such a beat, and depletion responses can be repeated immediately thereafter. During a sequence of such responses, extracellular calcium lost cumulatively during three to five rapid beats is replenished, for the most part, by a single post-stimulatory beat. These results demonstrate that most of the "activator pool" of cellular calcium can turn over to the extracellular space during a single contraction cycle in rabbit myocardium, and suggest that, in mammalian myocardium, diastolic calcium efflux may be quantitatively negligible in relation to efflux during excitation-contraction coupling.

Effect of brief ultrasound exposure on post-tetanic potentiation in cardiac muscle

The effect of a short 4 second ultrasound application (1.0 W/cm2 sATA at 963 KHz) on the post-tetanic-potentiation of isolated isometrically contracting rat papillary muscle has been evaluated. Post tetanic-potentiation was produced in hypoxic isolated papillary muscle by interrupting the control stimulation rate of 6/minute with 10 stimulating pulses at 0.2 sec intervals for one cycle. Ultrasound application varied from one second prior to the stimulating train to a period covering the entire train. Ultrasound application just preceding and impinging upon the pulse train, enhanced post-tetanic-potentiation contractions. However, delay in ultrasound application and covering the stimulating pulse train, reduced post-tetanic-potentiation contractions. These data suggest that a window exists for the effects of ultrasound on contracting myocardium which may be used to probe critical events in the cardiac cycle.

Excitation-contraction coupling in rested-state contractions of guinea-pig ventricular myocardium

Different types of rested-state contractions were examined under the influence of various inotropic agents. In magnesium-free solution, in low sodium (40 mmol/l) solution or in the presence of dihydroouabain, an "early" rested-state contraction developed without delay after stimulation. A distinctive "late" rested-state contraction was observed under the influence of noradrenaline. It is characterized by a latent period of about 100 ms between stimulation and onset of contraction. This latency was not reduced by increasing the catecholamine concentration, despite a concentration-dependent increase in the height of the "late" rested-state contraction. The late rested-state contraction under the influence of noradrenaline was suppressed by the slow inward current inhibitor nifedipine whether or not the nifedipine-dependent shortening of the action potential duration was prevented by caesium. When the slow inward current was not inhibited, the prolongation of the action potential duration by caesium resulted in an increase of the late rested-state contraction because of a prolongation of the time to peak force. High concentrations of dihydroouabain led to the appearance of an early contraction component without appreciably influencing the noradrenaline-dependent late component. From this it was deduced that the activator calcium for the late rested-state contraction was not stored intracellularly during rest prior to stimulation and, consequently, could not have been released by inflowing calcium. Instead, it is proposed that the activator calcium for the late rested-state contraction entered the sites of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and subsequently released from its release sites as long as the cell was depolarized. The "early" rested-state contractions in Mg2+-free solution, in low sodium solution or in the presence of dihydroouabain were not influenced in their contraction velocity by high concentrations of nifedipine which fully inhibited the late rested-state contractions. Nifedipine caused only a slight reduction in peak force due to a shortening of the time to peak force as a result of a shortening in action potential duration. This indicates that the activator calcium for the "early" rested-state contractions had accumulated in the sarcoplasmic reticulum during rest prior to stimulation and that it was released immediately by depolarization without a participation of the slow inward current.

Intracellular calcium transients in human working myocardium as detected with aequorin

The calcium transients associated with contraction in human working myocardium were recorded by use of the bioluminescent protein, aequorin, a substance that emits light when it combines with calcium ion (Ca++). Small amounts of aequorin were microinjected into superficial cells of human atrial and ventricular muscle obtained from tissue routinely excised and discarded at the time of cardiac surgery. Light output, an index of intracellular Ca++, and isometric tension development were recorded at 37.5 degrees C at 1 to 5 second intervals of stimulation. Light increases much more quickly than tension and decreases toward basal levels by the time that peak tension is reached. The configuration and time course of the aequorin signal in human myocardium and its responses to inotropic interventions are similar to those recorded in lower mammalian species. The calcium transient appears to be dominated by the release and uptake of Ca++ from intracellular stores under all conditions studied. These results indicate that aequorin is a useful tool for studying the effects of drugs and disease states on cardiac excitation-contraction coupling in human beings as well as in lower animals.

Excitation-contraction coupling in frog ventricle. Possible Ca2+ transport mechanisms

In frog ventricular muscle generation of tension was found to be under direct and continuous control of membrane potential. No phasic component of tension was found at any membrane potential. Developed tension depended only on the duration and amplitude of depolarization and was independent of previous contractile history. Developed tension, in part, depended on Ca2+ influx through a slowly inactivating component of Isi. Using long voltage clamp steps to achieve steady-state tension, no decline or reversal of developed tension was found at ECa. Increasing the [Ca]o shifted the tension-voltage relation to more negative potentials and increased the net outward current at potentials positive to -10 mV. The increase in tension seemed to be related to the increase in outward membrane current and K+ efflux, as estimated from post clamp K+ accumulations. Increasing [K]o, either by clamp-induced K+-accumulation or by increasing the [K] of the bathing solution, decreased the developed tension. These results suggest that in frog ventricular muscle Ca2+ for activation of tension is transported primarily from the extracellular space. There was no trigger-release of internal stores or recirculation of sequestered Ca2+. Activator Ca2+ was transported in part by a slowly inactivating Isi channel and a coupled transport mechanism. The exact mechanism by which Ca2+ transport and K+ efflux were related could not be identified.

Excitation- and rest-dependent shifts of Ca in guinea-pig ventricular myocardium

The rest- and excitation-dependent shifts of Ca and 45Ca in the isolated, perfused ventricles of guinea-pig hearts were investigated. As much as 50% of the total Ca content (2.2 mmol/kg ww) found in the ventricular muscle stimulated at a steady rate of 60/min, was released into perfusate during 4 min of rest. In the preparations perfused with 45Ca containing solution during the 4 min of rest or during the last 20 s of rest only, a single beat resulted in extra uptake of 0.359 and 0.287 mmol of labelled calcium (45Ca) per kg ww, respectively. Single post-rest excitation evoked in the ventricles which were previously perfused with radioactive solution for 64 min, resulted in increase in tissue 45Ca content by 0.229 mmol/kg ww. In these preparations, the gain in 45Ca is equivalent to the net Ca uptake. Continued post-rest stimulation at the rate of 60/min resulted in recovery of pre-rest content of 45Ca and of total Ca. Gain of 45Ca was paralleled by recovery of contractile force. Uptake of 45Ca in the preparations stimulated at the steady rate of 60/min was 0.137 mmol/kg ww and its value did not depend on the number of beats during exposure to the isotope. Thus 45Ca uptake over a number of steady-state beats may be regarded as equal to the uptake in a single beat. This uptake is by orders of magnitude larger than reported previously by other authors. It is proposed that contraction is triggered by Ca influx into the excited cells (Ca1), and that the response of contractile proteins to this trigger is controlled by a large intracellular Ca2 fraction whose volume is rate-dependent.

Injection of catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase into isolated cardiac myocytes

Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) or the free catalytic subunit (C) of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase were pressure injected into single guinea pig ventricular cells. The following results were obtained: Injection of cAMP prolonged the action potential and shifted the action potential plateau to a more positive level. Under voltage clamp, cAMP injection increased the amplitude of the slow inward calcium current (Isi). Injection of C permanently prolonged the action potential and enhanced the amplitude of Isi by a factor of 2-4, depending on the amount of injected C. In the current-voltage relations the potential of maximum Isi and the apparent current reversal did not change. After maximum prolongation of the action potential due to repeated injections of C, even high concentrations of adrenaline did not further change the configuration of the action potential. In many experiments transient depolarizations appeared after the injection. Correspondingly, under voltage clamp transient inward currents occurred. C injection increased both the time-dependent and time-independent potassium outward current. In response to injection of the catalytic subunit, the isotonic contraction was larger in amplitude and relaxation was faster. It is concluded that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase increases the slow inward calcium current in the heart, presumably by phosphorylation of some membrane proteins.

Effects of [Ca2+]o on contractility in the anoxic cardiac muscle of mammal and fish

Electrically paced atrial strips of hearts from rat and rainbow trout were exposed to increasing extracellular Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]o. This resulted in increases in the peak force in oxygenated atria from both species. During anoxia this response was suppressed for the rat, but accentuated for trout atrium.

Ionic currents in single isolated bullfrog atrial cells

Enzymatic dispersion has been used to yield single cells from segments of bullfrog atrium. Previous data (Hume and Giles, 1981) have shown that these individual cells are quiescent and have normal resting potentials and action potentials. The minimum DC space constant is approximately 920 microns. The major goals of the present study were: (a) to develop and refine techniques for making quantitative measurements of the transmembrane ionic currents, and (b) to identify the individual components of ionic current which generate different phases of the action potential. Initial voltage-clamp experiments made using a conventional two-microelectrode technique revealed a small tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive inward current. The small size of this current (2.5-3.0 X 10(-10)A) and the technical difficulty of the two-microelectrode experiments prompted the development of a one-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique which requires impalements using a low-resistance (0.5-2 M omega) micropipette. Voltage-clamp experiments using this new technique in isolated single atrial cells reveal five distinct ionic currents: (a) a conventional transient Na+ current, (b) a TTX-resistant transient inward current, carried mainly by Ca++, (c) a component of persistent inward current, (d) a slowly developing outward K+ current, and (e) an inwardly rectifying time-independent background current. The single suction micropipette technique appears well-suited for use in the quantitative study of ionic currents in these cardiac cells, and in other small cells having similar electrophysiological properties.

Ion binding to calmodulin. A comparison with other intracellular calcium-binding proteins

Over the past few years calcium has emerged as an important bioregulator. Upon external stimulation, the cell generates a transient Ca2+ increase, which is transformed into a cellular event through a molecular cascade. The first step in this cascade is the binding of calcium to proteins present in the cytosol. These proteins capable of binding Ca2+ under physiological conditions all belong to the same evolutionary family that evolved from a common ancestor. However, they strongly differ in the properties of their calcium binding sites. Calmodulin, the ubiquitous calcium binding protein present in all eukaryotic cells, is very close to the ancestor protein, presents four calcium binding sites which bind calcium, magnesium and monovalent ions competitively and is involved in the triggering of cellular processes. Parvalbumin, another member of the family, is more specialized and found mostly in fast-twitch skeletal muscle. It binds calcium and magnesium with high affinity and seems to be involved in muscle relaxation. On the other hand, troponin C which confers Ca2+ sensitivity to acto-myosin interaction exhibits both triggering and relaxing sites. The study of intracellular Ca2+ binding proteins has shown that calcium binding proteins have evolved from a simple common structure to fulfill different functions.

Acidosis and cardiac muscle contractility: comparative aspects

The evolutionary step involving transition from water- to air-breathing exposed the vertebrate cell to an increased risk of becoming acidotic. This is due to the fact that water-breathers generally excrete CO2 more easily than air-breathers. CO2 rapidly diffuses into the cell, where it may result in an excess of hydrogen ions. This is of interest as to the cardiac muscle, since these ions depress contractility, to a large extent probably by inhibiting the inotropic action of calcium ions in a competitive way. The present review, however, concerns the fact that the heart muscle may have an inherent ability to resist the negative inotropic effects of hydrogen ions. This is not a general property of the vertebrate heart, as it shows a clear tendency to be present in most air-breathers, whereas it is absent in most pure water-breathers, i.e. in most fishes. Measurements of the intracellular pH and of the tissue buffer capacity indicate that this ability to maintain force at a normal level in spite of an ongoing CO2-acidosis involves neither neutralization nor excretion of excess hydrogen ions. Instead, studies involving calcium-flux measurements and interventions in the cellular calcium-distribution suggest that the intracellular calcium ion deficit due to acidosis is compensated for by an increase of the calcium pool involved in the beat to beat regulation of cardiac force. How this is accomplished is unclear, although evidence was obtained that mitochondrial calcium stores may be involved.

Calcium efflux during the cold-induced contraction of mammalian striated muscle fibres

The efflux of 45Ca from mammalian slow twitch muscle fibres has been studied to provide a measure of the concentration of free Ca2+ in the sarcoplasm. The kinetically complex early phases of washout of the isotope are succeeded by a prolonged slower phase which exhibits first-order kinetics. This later phase is accelerated by caffeine, by preventing oxidative phosphorylation and also during an isometric contraction, whether this contraction is produced by lowering the temperature or by electrical stimulation. The local anaesthetic tetracaine abolishes the contraction caused by cold and in this case the rate constant for efflux is progressively lowered as the temperature is reduced (Q10 value of 2.3). The removal of external Na+ and Ca2+ reduces the efflux rate constant. Caffeine, sodium removal and the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation, all potentiate the cold contraction and the associated extra 45Ca efflux. Ca removal causes the cold contraction to become phasic. It appears that caffeine, sodium removal, the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and a decrease in temperature to below 10 degrees C are all treatments which, like electrical stimulation, increase the sarcoplasmic free calcium concentration to varying degrees.

Na+-dependence of 45Ca2+ uptake in adult rat isolated cardiac cells

We developed a technique that yields isolated adult rat myocytes, 70% of which are elongated and morphologically similar to intact tissue. Electrophysiological studies showed most of these cells were quiescent, Ca2+-tolerant and exhibited normal action potentials accompanied by contractions. We analyzed 45Ca2+ uptake data in terms of instantaneous, fast and slow compartments. 69% of total exchangeable Ca2+ was found in the slow compartment: the rest was almost equally divided between the instantaneous and fast compartments. Replacement of extracellular Na+ by Li+ or Tris increased 45Ca2+ uptake by the fast compartment; high [K+]o increased this uptake further. These increases appeared to be related also to internal concentrations of Na+. This conclusion was supported by experiments with digitonin-treated cells. Our results indicate that the way Na+-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake is affected by [Na+]o, [Na+]i and [K+]o is compatible with the Na+-Ca2+ exchange mechanism. Our preparation should prove useful in studies of regulation of Ca2+ transport in cardiac muscles.

The electrogenic sodium pump in guinea-pig ventricular muscle: inhibition of pump current by cardiac glycosides

1. The inhibition of the electrogenic sodium pump in guinea-pig ventricular muscle by cardiac glycosides was studied with a voltage-clamp technique.2. Superfusion of the preparation with dihydro-ouabain (DHO) produced a reversible depolarization of up to 7 mV. When the membrane potential was clamped to a constant value near the resting potential application of DHO produced a corresponding current change in the inward direction which reached a steady state in less than 1 min.3. The drug-induced current change (I(D)) was found to be the result of a parallel shift of the current-voltage relation. The contributions of a change in extracellular K or intracellular Na to the measured I(D) were shown to be very small. From these findings and the results summarized below it was concluded that I(D) represents the blockage of the electrogenic pump current by DHO and that it is proportional to the number of drug molecules bound to the Na-K-ATPase in the intact cell.4. The dependence of I(D) on the concentration of DHO applied (5 x 10(-6)-8 x 10(-4) M) was found to be consistent with the predictions of the law of mass action for reversible one-to-one binding of the drug to the Na-K pump under equilibrium conditions. From a Scatchard-type plot the equilibrium dissociation constant (K(D)) of DHO was determined to be 4.6 (+/-2.3) x 10(-5) M.5. The steady-state pump current in the resting preparation was calculated to be 0.81+/-0.26 muA/cm(2). It contributed 6.4+/-0.9 mV to the resting potential in Tyrode solution containing 3 mM-K.6. In the smallest preparations used the measured time course of the onset and decay of I(D) agreed with the chemical kinetics of binding and unbinding calculated for various DHO concentrations. The rate constant of unbinding (k(2)) was found to be 3.4 (+/-0.7) x 10(-2) S(-1) and the average rate constant of binding (k(1)) was 7.4 x 10(2) M(-1) S(-1).7. By comparing the effects of ouabain and DHO in the same preparation the following estimates of the chemical constants of ouabain binding to the Na-K pump were obtained: K(D) approximately 1.5 x 10(-6) M; k(1) approximately 4 x 10(3) M(-1) S(-1); k(2) approximately 6 x 10(-3) S(-1).8. An analysis of the transmembrane movements of Na and K in the steady state showed that the measured pump current density is consistent with a counter-transport of 3 Na and 2 K ions.

Electrical decoupling by Sr action potentials in guinea-pig papillary muscle

The membrane constants of guinea-pig papillary muscle have been derived by cable analysis, utilizing a single sucrose gap and micro-electrode recordings. In Na-free 20 mmol/l Sr Tyrode, the longitudinal resistance (ri) was increased by 210% from the control value after the passage of ten action potentials (APs) and by 457% after twenty APs but this increase in ri was reversibly abolished by perfusing with Na-containing solutions. ri was not affected by stimulation in Na-containing 20 mmol/l Sr Tyrode. Concomitant with the increase in ri, the conduction velocity of Sr APs was decreased from the control level of 8.6 to 3.1 cm/s after about twenty evoked Sr APs. The twitches elicited in the Na-free Sr Tyrode were large but the relaxation time was comparatively slow (20-30s), whereas those elicited in the Na-containing Sr Tyrode had a large amplitude and relaxation occurred within a few seconds. It is suggested that the increase in ri is due to junctional decoupling, produced either directly, by an intracellular accumulation of Sr2+, or indirectly by an increase in intracellular H+.

Intracellular calcium and sodium activity in sheep heart Purkinje fibres. Effect of changes of external sodium and intracellular pH

Intracellular Ca, Na and H selective microelectrodes were used to study the effects of reduction of the extracellular Na concentration, [Na]0, on the free intracellular Ca concentration, [Ca]i, Na activity, (aiNa), and intracellular pH (pHi) in sheep heart Purkinje fibres. 1. Reduction of [Na]0 from 140 mM to 14 mM produced a decrease of aiNa, and increase of free [Ca]i, and normally an increase of resting tension. 2. Inhibition of the Na-K pump by 10(-5) M acetyl-strophanthidin produced a slow rise of [Ca]i and resting tension. 3. The magnitude of the increase of free [Ca]i (and tension) produced by [Na]0 reduction was greatly enhanced when the Na-K pump is inhibited by either acetylstrophanthidin or K-free solutions. 4. We suggest that this enhanced rise of free [Ca]i in the presence of Na-K pump inhibition is due to Ca loading of intracellular Ca buffering systems during the pump inhibition. 5. Addition of NH4Cl produced a transient decrease of free [Ca]i that accompanied an alkaline change in pHi. Removal of NH4Cl (which produced a transient intracellular acidification) produced a transient increase of free [Ca]i. We conclude that a close relationship exists between the control of free [Ca]i and pHi which may be due to competition at, or common use of, intracellular buffering systems.

Effect of potassium depolarization on sodium-dependent calcium efflux from goldfish heart ventricles and guinea-pig atria

1. (45)Ca fluxes were studied in normal and potassium-depolarized goldfish ventricles as a function of the external Na concentration. Some of the experiments were also performed on guinea-pig auricles.2. When the external K concentration was increased from 5.4 to 142 mM, keeping osmolarity constant by adding 137 mM-Li or choline (hyperosmotically) to the low K solution, the (45)Ca efflux was reversibly inhibited, whereas the [(3)H]sucrose efflux was unaffected.3. Goldfish ventricles, which have been depolarized with 142 mM-K for 100 min, repolarized within 20 min, from ca. -15 mV to ca. -70 mV, following the application of 5.4 mM-K. This repolarization was independent of the presence of external Na. During the repolarization the (45)Ca efflux was reactivated. This reactivation, however, depended on the external Na concentration. Comparable results were obtained in guinea-pig atria.4. A similar repolarization and Na-dependent reactivation of (45)Ca efflux was obtained in goldfish ventricles superfused with 10(-6) M-Ca(2+) (4.5 mM-Ca, 5 mM-EGTA, pH 7.1), provided that the (45)Ca washout was started in high K.5. In 10(-6) M-Ca(2+), 137 mM-Na, 5.4 mM-K and 137 mM-choline goldfish ventricles depolarized to about -25 mV within 80 min. If the choline was now replaced by 137 mM-K, the membrane potential moved to ca. -15 mV, and under these conditions the (45)Ca efflux was slightly increased.6. Following Na-free perfusion for 100 min, and at normal external Ca concentrations, the (45)Ca efflux from goldfish ventricles was stimulated by the addition of Na. The curve relating this stimulation to the external Na concentration had a sigmoidal shape and was shifted to the right by K-depolarization. In guinea-pig atria the inhibition of the Na-stimulated Ca efflux by depolarization was of a non-competitive type.7. Following a Na-free incubation of 100 min and a subsequent period of 20 min in 137 mM-Na, the intracellular Na content of goldfish ventricular cells was some 20% lower in K-depolarized cells than in cells at the resting potential.8. (45)Ca influx in goldfish ventricles in the presence of 137 or 68.5 mM-Na was not significantly changed by K-depolarization.9. The results show that the Na-dependent fraction of Ca efflux is inhibited by high external K. The effect is probably due to depolarization, which may be an argument in favour of electrogenic n Na(+)-1 Ca(2+) exchange, with n >/= 3.

The effect of temperature on the contractile response of cardiac muscle from two frog species, Rana temporaria and Xenopus laevis, at two different calcium concentrations-I. At pH 7.7

1. Mechanical parameters were recorded from paced ventricular cardiac muscle strips of two amphibian species. Rana temporaria and Xenopus laevis. 2. The strips contracted at pH 7.7 and with either 1.6 or 3.0 mM Ca2+ while the temperature was changed from 5 to 30 degree C. 3. It is concluded that the cardiac muscles of the two frog species exhibited similar contractile responses upon temperature and Ca2+ elevations at physiological pH, although X. laevis hearts displayed greater variation in tension response than those of R. Temporaria. 4. The relaxation mechanisms in relation to the contractile mechanisms of X. laevis myocardium, however, seemed to be more efficient, although more sensitive to low temperatures than those of R. temporaria.

Voltage-clamp studies of transient inward current and mechanical oscillations induced by ouabain in ferret papillary muscle

1. We studied the effects of a toxic concentration of ouabain on transmembrane electrical activity and on mechanical behaviour of right ventricular papillary muscles from ferrets in a single sucrose-gap using current clamp and voltage clamp.2. Ouabain (1.4-1.8 muM) induced oscillatory after-potentials and after-concentrations in current-clamp experiments. Voltage clamp showed that the oscillatory after-potential was caused by a transient inward current, similar to that in Purkinje fibres.3. The transient current had a sigmoidal dependence on the preceding (activating) voltage step V1, with a treshold around -13 mV and a plateau between +10 and 20 mV. There was a decline in current amplitude for more positive clamps. When activated by a fixed V1 voltage step, and measured at different repolarization levels V2, the transient current manifested an inverse dependence on V2 between -50 and -10 mV. No outward transient current could be detected. Total replacement of Na in the bathing medium by Tris or by sucrose abolished the transient current.4. Ouabain caused an increase of phasic (twitch) tension responses to voltage steps at all potentials without shifting the curve relating these variables on the voltage axis. The drug evoked an even greater increase in the tonic tension responses.5. After prolonged exposure, oscillatory mechanical responses were frequently recorded during positive voltage steps. Unlike the after-contraction, these mechanical fluctuations were not consistently damped and were not accompanied by detectable synchronous current fluctuations. Catecholamines and dibutyryl cyclic AMP markedly reduced the amplitude of the tonic contraction and the mechanical oscillations but increased their frequency. Caffeine had no effect on the tonic contraction amplitude but abolished the fluctuations.6. These results support the proposal that Ca is transiently released from the overloaded sarcoplasmic reticulum in ouabain-intoxicated muscle and may evoke oscillatory responses in nearby contractile fibrils. When these transient increases of sarcoplasmic free Ca are large enough, they may induce the transient transmembrane current described above.

The effects of muscle length on intracellular calcium transients in mammalian cardiac muscle

1. The calcium-sensitive photoprotein aequorin was micro-injected into cells of rat and cat ventricular muscles. The resulting light emission is a function of intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). The transient increases in [Ca2+]i that accompany contraction were monitored. 2. After an increase in muscle length, the developed tension increased immediately and then showed a slow increase over a period of minutes. The peak [Ca2+]i in each contraction was initially unchanged after an increase in muscle length but then showed a slow increase with a time course similar to that of the slow tension change. 3. As a consequence of these slow changes, the shape of the tension-length relation depends on the procedure used to determine it and this change in shape can be attributed to changes in activation. 4. Immediately after an increase in muscle length the calcium transient was abbreviated. 5. When a quick release was performed during a contraction, a short-lived increase in the [Ca2+]i was observed following the release. 6. The two previous observations can both be explained if the binding constant of troponin for calcium is a function of developed tension.

Effects of uridine triphosphate on contractility, cyclic nucleotide levels and membrane potential in the isolated frog ventricle

A study has been made of the effects of uridine 5'-triphosphate (UTP) on the isolated frog ventricle. Preparations were superfused with solutions containing different concentrations of UTP, and changes in contractility, cyclic nucleotide levels and membrane potential were measured. UTP produced a long lasting increase in isometric twitch tension, which was unaffected by adrenergic receptor antagonists (propranolol and phentolamine). The levels of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) were measured at different times during exposure of the ventricle to 10(-4) M UTP. The increase in the force of contraction was found to be accompanied by a rise in intracellular cyclic AMP. Cyclic GMP levels were seen to fall initially, but then to increase later, as both twitch and cyclic AMP started to decline. UTP also produced marked changes in the shape of the action potential; its duration and positive overshoot were both increased. The effects of UTP on twitch tension, cyclic nucleotide levels and action potential parameters were all dose-related. The change in contractility was found to be linearly related to (a) the ratio of the amount of cyclic AMP: cyclic GMP present in the fibres, and (b) to the increase in duration of the action potential. These results suggest that cyclic AMP, cyclic GMP and the availability of Ca2+ may all be involved in mediating the response to UTP.

Measurement of rapidly exchangeable cellular calcium in the perfused beating rat heart

Although Ca2+ has long been known to play a vital role in excitation--contraction coupling in the heart, investigation of the details of this role has been hampered by the experimental difficulty of measuring Ca2+ movements through the different compartments of the cell. A major problem has been to distinguish the relatively small amount of rapidly exchangeable cellular Ca2+ from the large amount of vascular and interstitial Ca2+. We report here a method that overcomes this problem. Rat hearts were labeled by perfusion at 37 degrees C with medium containing 45Ca2+. They were then cooled, and extracellular 45Ca2+ was removed by perfusion at 6 degrees C with Ca2+-free medium. Cellular 45Ca2+ that had been trapped in the hearts by cooling was then released by reperfusion at 37 degrees C with medium containing unlabeled Ca2+. The cellular origin of this 45Ca2+ was confirmed by using [3H]sucrose: When hearts were also labeled with [3H]sucrose, very little [3H]-sucrose was released with the 45Ca2+ peak. The amount of exchangeable cellular Ca2+ in hearts labeled for 5 min was 125 +/- 13 nmol/g of wet weight. The half-time for its release was less than 1 min. This cellular Ca2+ contained at least two pools: a rapidly exchanging pool that required extracellular Ca2+ for release (pool A, 38% of total), and a more slowly exchanging pool that did not (pool B, 62% of total). Hearts stimulated with isoproterenol during the 5-min labeling period showed an increase of 46% for the total amount of exchangeable cellular Ca2+; this increase was entirely located in pool A.

The effects of tetracaine on the membrane currents and contraction of frog atrial muscle

1. The effects of tetracaine on the membrane currents and contraction of isolated frog atrial trabeculae under voltage clamp has been investigated. 2. Tetracaine inhibits the slow inward current in a competitive way with a Ki of 0.13 mM, and the phasic component of the contractile response in a non-competitive manner with a Ki of 0.25 mM. 3. The tonic phase of contraction is little affects by tetracaine while the outward current is reduced. 4. The effects of tetracaine on contraction closely resemble those obtained previously with K contractures and further emphasize that two processes, both of which depend on the membrane potential, are involved in the initiation of contraction in amphibian heart. 5. The effect of tetracaine on the phasic tension would seem to be due to an inhibition of both the slow inward current and the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Facilitation of acetylcholine release from cardiac parasympathetic nerve endings. Effect of stimulation pattern and Mn ions

The influence of the stimulus intervals and the effect of Mn ions on facilitation of acetylcholine (ACh) release from parasympathetic nerve terminals were studied in quiescent guinea-pig auricles by electrophysiological methods. A maximum facilitation occurs at intervals of about 50ms. The half time of decay of facilitation after a conditioning stimulus is about 500ms. When conditioning trains of stimuli were applied, a second much longer lasting component of facilitation was found (t1/2 congruent to 4s). Mn ions, after exerting an inhibitory effect, cause an increase of ACh release, the development of which is dependent on frequent stimulation of the nerve fibres. This potentiation is accompanied by an apparent loss of facilitation. A further increase in ACh release occurs when superfusion is changed from Mn containing to normal Tyrode's solution. The decay to the control level displays a half time of about 20 min and can also be accelerated by frequent stimulation of the parasympathetic nerve fibres. It is suggested that Mn ions not only inhibit a Ca inward current but may also act on intracellular Ca2+ bindings sites in the nerve terminal. When these sites are blocked even a reduced Ca influx can be more effective in the process of transmitter release.

Diastolic scattered light fluctuation, resting force and twitch force in mammalian cardiac muscle

1. When coherent light was passed through isolated isometric cardiac muscles during the diastolic or resting period, intensity fluctuations were observed in the scattered field. The frequency of these intensity fluctuations (f((1/2))) varied with many experimental interventions known to enhance Ca(2+) flux into the cell.2. In rat muscles stimulated at low frequencies (0.1 +/- 2.0 min(-1)) stepwise increases (0.4-10 mm) of [Ca(2+)] in the bathing fluid ([Ca(2+)](e)), or addition of ouabain (10(-6)-6 x 10(-4)m) to the perfusate caused stepwise increases in f((1/2)). These were paralleled by increments in resting force (RF) such that the changes in f((1/2)) and RF were highly correlated. Substitution of K(+) for Na(+) in the perfusate resulted in parallel transients in RF and f((1/2)).3. In contrast to the rat, most cat muscles stimulated at low frequencies in the steady state exhibited neither diastolic intensity fluctuations nor Ca(2+)-dependent changes in RF in [Ca(2+)](e) of 10 mm or less; when [Ca(2+)](e) was increased to 12-32 mm, however, steady-state Ca(2+)-dependent f((1/2)) and RF were observed. In a given [Ca(2+)](e) reduction of [Na(+)](e) increased f((1/2)). In the transient state following cessation of regular stimulation at more rapid rates (12-96 min(-1)) intensity fluctuations were present in all [Ca(2+)](e) and decayed with time (seconds to minutes); the f((1/2)) and time course of the decay of the fluctuations were determined by the rate of prior stimulation and [Ca(2+)](e).4. Maximum potentiation of twitch force in response to the above inotropic interventions was associated with an optimal level of f((1/2)) which was similar in both species; when higher levels of f((1/2)) were produced by more intense inotropic intervention, twitch force declined. Over the range of inotropic intervention up to and including that at which maximum twitch potentiation occurred, the increase in diastolic f((1/2)) predicted the extent of twitch potentiation with a high degree of accuracy (r > 0.97) both in the transient and steady states.5. In contrast to the other inotropic interventions studied, catecholamines were unique in that neither f((1/2)) nor RF increased over a full range of concentrations that resulted in maximum potentiation of the twitch.6. It is concluded from these observations that f((1/2)) reflects diastolic Ca(2+)-dependent myofilament interaction; the increase in the extent of this interaction by inotropic interventions that do not alter the affinity of the myofilaments for Ca(2+) probably reflects an increase in diastolic myoplasmic [Ca(2+)], an optimal level of which is associated with maximal potentiation of twitch force; the difference in f((1/2)) in rat and cat muscles under a given set of in vitro conditions may be related to the marked species difference in the effectiveness of excitation-contraction coupling.

Potential and tension changes induced by sodium removal in dog Purkinje fibres: role of an electrogenic sodium-calcium exchange

1. Isolated dog Purkinje fibres were bathed in K-free media or in the presence of ouabain 10(-4) M in order to depress the electrogenic sodium pump activity. Membrane potential and mechanical tension were recorded in the presence of normal external sodium concentration and during lowering or removal of external Na. 2. Lowering or removal of external Na (Na being replaced by choline, Tris, sucrose or Li) induced a hyperpolarization and a contracture which reached a maximum after 1 or 2 min and then decreased progressively. Using Tris, Em increased from -40 +/- 3 to -72 +/- 10 mV (n = 39). The Na-free contracture and hyperpolarization did not occur in the absence of Na pump depression. 3. Tetrodotoxin (1.2 x 10(-5)M), Mn (4 mM), verapamil (1-4 x 10(-5) M) tetraethylammonium (5 mM), 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) and Cs (20 mM, in the presence of ouabain) did not alter the Na-free contracture and hyperpolarization. On the other hand Mn (20 mM), acid media (external pH less than 6.0) and low temperatures depressed or suppressed both the hyperpolarization and contracture. Lanthanum (0.4 mM) did not suppress the hyperpolarization and the contracture. On the contrary the Na-free contracture was generally increased in the presence of La. 4. Caffeine (10 mM) induced strong contractures with no changes in Em, thus demonstrating the possibility for the Purkinje fibers of developing contractures without concomitant hyperpolarizations. 5. It can be concluded that the Na-free contracture and hyperpolarization are not due to changes in passive conductances but are related to the functioning of an electrogenic Na-Ca exchange mechanism which carries inwardly 1 Ca and outwardly 3 or more Na.

The mechanical activity of chick embryonic myocardial cell aggregates

1. Simultaneous recordings of membrane potential and edge movement were obtained in spontaneously beating chick embryonic myocardial cell aggregates, which are known to behave as an isopotential syncytium.2. The time course of edge movement was similar in different aggregates, and in different regions of the same aggregate.3. Peak amplitude was increased by 10(-6)m-ouabain, and by rapid reduction of the external sodium concentration.4. Peak amplitude was decreased during single premature action potentials, but sustained rapid pacing produced an ascending staircase.5. Depolarizing current pulses increased both the amplitude and duration of the contraction, and caused potentiation of the next spontaneous beat. Edge displacement during a series of pulses was a monotonic function of membrane potential.6. Edge movement between action potentials (diastolic movement) was well fitted by an exponential with a mean time constant of 69 msec. Diastolic edge movement was due to a weak, slowly decaying contractile force, which was demonstrated in cells grown on a linear-elastic nylon bristle.7. The time course of diastolic edge movement remained constant, or nearly constant, during variations in peak amplitude that resulted from prematurity of the action potential, exposure to 10(-6)m-ouabain, spontaneous mechanical alternans, or prolongation of the action potential by current pulses.8. In contrast, reduction of the external sodium concentration produced marked, selective slowing of the diastolic edge movement. Similar slowing occurred during cooling and during staircase. Diastolic edge movement was selectively accelerated when the preceding interbeat interval was prolonged by a hyperpolarizing current pulse.9. The above observations are consistent with the hypothesis that edge displacement is a monotonic function of contractile force.10. The slow relaxation between action potentials probably reflects removal of intracellular calcium across the surface membrane in exchange for sodium. Changes in the rate of calcium removal may play a role in the regulation of contractility in this tissue.

The tension-depolarization relationship of frog atrial trabeculae as determined by potassium contractures

1. In the presence of extracellular Na ions K contractures evoked from isolated frog atrial trabeculae show an initial phasic and a subsequent tonic contractile response. 2. The phasic response shows a steep dependence on membrane potential, persists in Na-free fluid, but is blocked by Mn ions, D600 and tetracaine. It has an indirect dependence on the [Ca]0 and would seem to be associated with both the secondary inward current and the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. 3. The tonic component of the K contracture is unaffected by D600 or tetracaine, shows a shallow dependence on membrane potential but is absent in Na-free fluid. Its tension-depolarization curve is immediately affected by alteration of either the [Ca]0 or the [Na]0. The form of the tension-depolarization relationship and the effects of [Ca]0 and [Na]0 are consistent with the strength of the tonic tension being determined by a 3Na+ for 1Ca2+ exchange across the cell membrane. 4. The results agree well with those obtained previously with voltage-clamp experiments on the same tissue, and may also help with the interpretation of Ca-flux experiments.

Simultaneous recording of monophasic action potentials and contractile force from the human heart

Cardiac monophasic action potentials (MAPs) and contractility have been simultaneously measured in man while the heart rate was being changed by right atrial pacing. A new non-suction electrode was used for safe and long-term recording of MAPs from the endomyocardium. Abrupt changes in cycle-length were followed first by a fast, then a slow response in the adaptation of MAP-duration and of contractility (LV dp/dt max) to the new steady state. After increasing the heart rate then slow phase of MAP shortening appears to be related to the slow staircase of contractility, whereas after the step decrease of frequency no such a relation could be observed. The consistency of these results with those obtained in corresponding in-vitro experiments indicates that this methodical approach may be suitable for assessing the process of E-C coupling in the human heart.

The interaction of sodium and calcium ions at the cell membrane and the control of contractile strength in frog atrial muscle

1. The relationship between [Na]o and the contracture tension, developed by isolated frog trabeculae, has been investigated in the presence of different levels of bathing K and Ca ions and after experimental manoeuvres likely to increase [Na]i. 2. Raising [K[o, [Ca]o or [Na]i all increase the strength of the contractures induced by lowering the bathing [Na] except when the [Na]o is close to zero, suggesting that the Ca-Na exchange depends on membrane potential or [K]o. 3. The experimental data have been compared to the predictions of three relatively simple models of Ca-Na exchange in the membrane, where [Ca]i depends on the [K]o either directly or by way of its effect on the membrane potential and tension varies according to a second order relationship with [Ca]i. 4. The only scheme to fit all the experimental data satisfactorily is one which assumes an exchange of one Ca ion for three Na ions across the membrane. This scheme requires that the contractile system has an apparent binding constant for Ca2+, similar to that found with skinned cardiac muscle cells or isolated cardiac myofibrils. In intact muscle, when the [Na]i is close to that measured experimentally, the model predicts that tension should vary with the [Ca]o2, 1/[Na]o4, and the [Ca]/[Na]o2 ratio.

Interactions between the regulation of the intracellular pH and sodium activity of sheep cardiac Purkinje fibres

1. We have investigated the influence of the H+ and Na+ gradients across the cell membrane on the regulation of the intracellular pH (pHi) and of the intracellular Na activity (aNai) in sheep heart Purkinje fibres, using Na+- and pH-sensitive microelectrodes. 2. In oxygenated, nominally bicarbonate-free solutions (buffered with HEPES) the steady-state pHi changed linearly with the extracellular pH (pHo) by 0.23 pH units/pHo unit change over the pHo range of 5.4-8.4. The H+ equilibrium potential changed by about 47 mV/pHo unit change. 3. Both the steady-state pHi and the pHi recovery from acidification induced by lowering the pHo to 6.4 were affected only to a small extent by reducing the extracellular Na concentration [Na]o, to one half or to one tenth normal. 4. The steady-state aNai decreased by 5 to 20% when the pHo was reduced to 6.4 and increased by 3 to 8% when the pHo was raised to 8.4. These changes in aNai were still present when the Na-K pump had been inhibited by the cardioactive steroid strophanthidin (10(-5) M). 5. Exposure to K-free solutions caused an increase in aNai. Following addition of 6 mM-K (to re-activate the Na-K pump) the rate of decrease of aNai was not affected by pHo changes from 6.4 to 8.4. 6. Inhibition of the Na+-K+ pump by strophanthidin (10(-5) M) caused aNai to rise rapidly within 2-3 min. The pHi remained unchanged for the first 1-30 min after the pump inhibition, but then decreased by several tenths of a pH unit. 7. Amiloride (10(-3) M) caused a small decrease in a Nai and an intracellular acidification of up to 0.2 pH units. 8. Under conditions, where aNai was high due to inhibition of the Na-K pump by strophanthidin, lowering the [Na]o to one tenth normal produced a very large intracellular acidification, while aNai decreased. Amiloride increased this intracellular acidification even more, while the decrease in aNai remained unaffected. 9. Application of NH4Cl (20 mM) produced a decrease of aNai and a rapid intracellular alkalinization, followed by a slower acidification. Upon removal of NH4Cl the pHi dropped by several tenths of a pH unit but rapidly recovered. During this pH recovery there was a small transient increase in aNai above the control level before returning to normal. 10. The pHi recovery after the removal of NH4Cl was slowed by lowering the [Na]o to one tenth normal, and it was greatly inhibited in the presence of amiloride. The transient overshoot of aNai after NH4Cl removal was suppressed by amiloride. 11. We conclude that under some conditions there appears to be an exchange of intracellular H+ for extracellular Na+ across the cell membrane and that this exchange can help regulate the intracellular pH.